PeopleSoft roles shuffled after merger

By ADAM GIFFORD

PeopleSoft has sorted out its senior management positions in New Zealand following its merger with JD Edwards.

JD Edwards New Zealand manager John Speed is off to Sydney to lead sales operations in PeopleSoft's northern region, which includes New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Andrew Batchelor will be New Zealand sales manager for the enlarged entity and Stewart Gibbs retains the services role. Gibbs worked for JD Edwards before joining PeopleSoft three years ago.

A decision has yet to be made about whether the combined firm should shift to JD Edwards offices overlooking Takapuna Beach, or consolidate in the city.

PeopleSoft Australia managing director David Webster will get the top Australian slot and JD Edwards Australia head Ian Hodge moves to a regional role under PeopleSoft's Asia Pacific and Japan senior vice-president, New Zealander Murray Creighton, whose position was confirmed last month.

Worldwide, PeopleSoft has said it intends to shed 7 per cent of combined staff, about 1000 people, but insiders say the New Zealand operations of both companies were already extremely lean.

JD Edwards has been in New Zealand for about 15 years.

It has 55 staff, almost all of whom are in revenue-producing roles, and 85 sites, mainly manufacturing and distribution businesses.

PeopleSoft set up in New Zealand just over five years ago. It has targeted customers in the Government, local government, education and services sectors. It has more than over 20 local staff and 45 customers.

Meanwhile, Casino operator Sky City has confirmed it is to buy an enterprise system from PeopleSoft, ending months of speculation that the deal could be derailed by Oracle's hostile bid for its software rival.

Andrew Batchelor said the delay was because Sky City "wanted to make sure all of the users and businesses across the entity were aligned and happy with the solution".

As well as its Auckland casino, Sky City runs casinos in Adelaide, Queenstown and Hamilton, hotels and conference centres, and the former Force Corporation cinema chain.

Information services general manager Damian Swaffield said the system, which will cost "several million dollars", included financials, supply chain, human resources and payroll.

In New Zealand, Sky City uses an Infinium enterprise planning system, and its Adelaide Casino runs JD Edwards.

Oracle yesterday extended its US$19.50 offer for Peoplesoft shares to December 31.

It has so far managed to pick up less than 25 million of the 364 million shares, which closed last week at US$20.55 ($34.40).

The offer was set to expire on Friday.